Beverage dispensing nozzle

Abstract

A post mix beverage dispensing nozzle includes a housing that contains a diffuser. The nozzle connects to a dispensing valve for dispensing a viscous beverage syrup that must be mixed with a mixing fluid, such as water, before dispensing. The diffuser comprises a plurality of interconnected plates with the top plate contacting the beverage syrup entering the nozzle to direct the beverage syrup radially outward in a thin sheet. As the beverage syrup expands radially outward past the surface of the top plate, the mixing fluid shears the beverage syrup and forces it to cascade down the remaining plates of the diffuser. The top plate of the diffuser forces the beverage syrup into a thin sheet to expose a maximum surface area of the beverage syrup to the water, while the cascading effect created by the remaining plates results in vigorous mixing that produces a dispensed beverage having the desired mix ratio between mixing fluid and beverage syrup.

We claim: 
     
       1. A post mix beverage dispensing nozzle, comprising: a housing removably connectable to a dispensing valve; and   a diffuser disposed in said housing, said diffuser comprising a first plate residing directly beneath a beverage syrup outlet of said dispensing valve to force a beverage syrup delivered from the beverage syrup outlet into a thin sheet and direct the thin sheet radially outward and a second plate residing directly beneath a mixing fluid outlet of said dispensing valve that surrounds the beverage syrup outlet wherein a mixing fluid delivered from the mixing fluid outlet shears the thin sheet of beverage syrup as it spreads past said first plate and drives it against said second plate to mix the mixing fluid and beverage syrup.   
     
     
       2. The post mix dispensing nozzle according to claim 1 wherein said diffuser further comprises a plurality of interconnected plates connected to said first and second plates. 
     
     
       3. The post mix dispensing nozzle according to claim 2 wherein, after the mixing of the beverage syrup and mixing fluid, the resulting mixed stream of mixing fluid and beverage syrup cascades down the plurality of plates to receive a vigorous mixing before exiting said housing of said nozzle. 
     
     
       4. The post mix beverage dispensing nozzle according to claim 2 wherein said first and second plates are circularly shaped and said plurality of interconnected plates are truncated circles.